Laborer

Darling Ingredients Inc.; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 19,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Darling Ingredients Inc. is seeking a Utility Worker / Finish Painter in Des Moines, IA to support the fabrication, refurbishment, and finishing of used cooking oil storage tanks.

The role focuses on surface preparation and final coating, with duties including spray application, inspection, and touch-ups. The position requires hands-on labor, attention to safety, and the ability to work with paints and solvents in a shop environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience with industrial or commercial painting.
• Forklift or overhead crane experience (or willingness to be trained).
• Ability to perform physical labor, lifting up to 50 lbs and standing for extended periods.
• Basic knowledge of surface prep methods and coating systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare tank surfaces for coating, including cleaning, degreasing, sanding, grinding, masking, and blasting as required
• Apply industrial coatings, primers, and finish paints using spray equipment, rollers, or brushes per specifications
• Inspect finished surfaces for quality, coverage, and defects; perform touch-ups as needed
• Follow coating thickness, cure time, and environmental requirements
• Assist with tank movement, staging, and positioning using forklifts, pallet jacks, or cranes (if certified)
• Support fabrication and assembly operations as needed (drilling, grinding, deburring, cleaning, bolting)
• Perform basic maintenance and cleaning of tools, paint equipment, and work areas
• Load and unload materials and finished products
• Follow all OSHA, company, and customer safety requirements
• Properly handle flammable materials, solvents, and coatings
• Use required PPE including respirators, gloves, eye protection, and protective clothing
• Maintain clean and organized workspaces to reduce hazards
• Follow work instructions, drawings, and paint specifications
• Complete basic production and quality check documentation when required
• Communicate issues related to quality, safety, or scheduling to supervision

Skills

Surface prep methods

Industrial painting

Time management

Physical stamina

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Forklift operation

Overhead crane experience

Job description

We're one of the world's leading practitioners of circularity, transforming materials from the animal agriculture and food industries into valuable ingredients. Ingredients that nourish people, feed animals and crops, and fuel the world with renewable energy.

The Utility Worker / Finish Painter supports the fabrication, refurbishment, and finishing of used cooking oil storage tanks. This role is responsible for surface preparation, final coating application, general shop support, and maintaining a clean, safe, and efficient work environment. The position requires attention to detail, adherence to safety standards, and the ability to perform a variety of hands-on manufacturing tasks as assigned.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
• Prepare tank surfaces for coating, including cleaning, degreasing, sanding, grinding, masking, and blasting as required
• Apply industrial coatings, primers, and finish paints using spray equipment, rollers, or brushes per specifications
• Inspect finished surfaces for quality, coverage, and defects; perform touch-ups as needed
• Follow coating thickness, cure time, and environmental requirements
• Assist with tank movement, staging, and positioning using forklifts, pallet jacks, or cranes (if certified)
• Support fabrication and assembly operations as needed (drilling, grinding, deburring, cleaning, bolting)
• Perform basic maintenance and cleaning of tools, paint equipment, and work areas
• Load and unload materials and finished products
• Follow all OSHA, company, and customer safety requirements
• Properly handle flammable materials, solvents, and coatings
• Use required PPE including respirators, gloves, eye protection, and protective clothing
• Maintain clean and organized workspaces to reduce hazards
• Follow work instructions, drawings, and paint specifications
• Complete basic production and quality check documentation when required
• Communicate issues related to quality, safety, or scheduling to supervision

Qualifications

• Highly organized; superior time management skills.
• Experience with industrial or commercial painting
• Forklift or overhead crane experience (or willingness to be trained)
• Ability to perform physical labor, lifting up to 50 lbs and standing for extended periods
• Basic knowledge of surface prep methods and coating systems preferred
• High school diploma or equivalent

Physical Demands

• Frequently required to walk, stand, sit, climb, balance, stoop, bend, kneel, and reach.
• Occasionally must push, pull, move or lift up to 50 lbs.

Darling Ingredients is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military service, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state and local law. Know Your Rights: If you would like more information, please click on the link and paste into your browser: https://www.eeoc.gov/poster of this job.